#3: Keep It Simple

There is nothing more exciting when starting a new venture than to dream of where it can go and how big it can get. So much so, that when it comes time to actually start executing and building it, it becomes so daunting that you don’t know where to start and you think it is going to take some astronomical amount of money to get it off the ground. I mean, who doesn’t have a billion dollar idea? The real question is, how are you going to get it there? First thing’s first when getting started, keep it simple.

When you let your ideas get too big at the beginning, they get hairy. Not just in the sense that they are going to take an army of resources to build but also when it comes to educating and selling the public on what it is you do. You have to be able to easily and quickly articulate what it is you do and the value you provide to your end user. So, at the beginning, focus your attention on one aspect of your vision and do it better than anyone else.

For example, when Facebook first started it didn’t have chat, groups, pages, a marketplace, apps, events or even photos or a wall. Yes, I remember when Facebook added the ability to have a profile photo and leave a message on someone’s wall, people thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread. It started off as a simple directory where you could fill out a profile about yourself, the courses you were taking at school and connect to other people. That simple. Now, we all know what it has evolved into.

The same thing goes with a lot of products and services out there that we all know and love. They started with a simple product or service that did one thing extremely well. Then, when they grew their community and gained recognition in the marketplace, they expanded upon their concept and evolved.

So be sure to keep it simple when starting out. Find the foundation of your vision and focus all of your attention there. If you can’t get that right, it doesn’t matter what you want to build on top of it.